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Post by Perceptor on Apr 2, 2008 17:31:50 GMT -5
Even deep in the throes of a project and oblivious to the world, Perceptor's workshop is never what one would truly call "messy". Cluttered, perhaps, but always neatly organized, even if sometimes the organization makes sense only to the scientist in question.
Today, however, there is an extra patina of... perfection to the neatly laid out tools and stacks of carefully prepared sheets of raw armor and collections of circuitry and base materials laid out on one workbench. Not a project yet, but one in the final stages of preparation, as Perceptor putters about carefully cleaning - and re-cleaning - one mech-sized workbench cum repair berth.
Now all there is to do is to wait for the subject for which all this preparation had been accomplished.
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Post by Emirate Xaaron on Apr 2, 2008 18:36:35 GMT -5
The one supposed to show up hasn't yet, and in fact, he's probably delaying his arrival as long as he can, if past behaviour is any indication.
The one who does arrive isn't meant to arrive at all, though he wears the same face. Emirate Xaaron pauses and knocks at the door. Hopefully, Perceptor isn't lost in thought, busy, or recharging. If he is, the matter has waited quite a while. It can wait longer yet.
It'll be easy to tell him apart from his alternate - this one still bears the crushing damage from Grimlock and the mark of Nightbeat's fist on his face, but even if he didn't, he stands straight and uncringing, yellow optics bright and curious, not filled with terror.
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Post by Perceptor on Apr 2, 2008 18:47:26 GMT -5
No, Perceptor is not lost in thought, nor recharging, and what "business" which might have applied had been merely a means to fill time before Xaaron's arrival.
Except, as Perceptor steps over to the door, this is clearly not the Xaaron he had been expecting, if the surprise on his features is anything to judge by. This Xaaron does look in need of Perceptor's services, though.
"Greetings, Xaaron," he offers cheerfully. "How may I assist you?"
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Post by Emirate Xaaron on Apr 2, 2008 19:01:12 GMT -5
Emirate Xaaron notes the surprise and quirks his brow. Is he that startling? Hopefully not.
He brings up a hand to his chin and rubs it, replying, "Hello, Perceptor. Do I have the look of someone with a request to make?" He smiles. "Because I do, actually. I have been thinking about matters," mainly about Terran cops shows, but he's not going to get into that, "and it occurs to me that neglecting getting my proper repairs has been negligent of me."
"I may not be able to hit the broad side of Broadside, but being able to blow a hole in a wall every now and then might be useful. It's not something that came in very useful, back home. The Decepticons had extremely low chances of finding me, after all, but the chances are a bit more skewed here. It is irresponsible to not offer my allies every chance they can get."
He looks away and rubs his elbow. "That said, please don't tell them? I don't want them expecting Warpath, here."
Therein is why he came to Perceptor. He's pretty darn sure that Perceptor knows, and Perceptor hasn't said a peep yet. Emirate Xaaron does so hope that First Aid isn't offended.
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Post by Perceptor on Apr 3, 2008 20:29:31 GMT -5
Perceptor tilts his head and fixes a look upon Xaaron of mixed surprise and deep contemplation. Xaaron is prepared to accept repairs upon his person that he had once quite firmly refused from the scientist on the basis of their rather distinctly different philosophies. Perceptor cannot help but wonder if this is an indication of some manner of having proven himself, or if the straits have truly become that dire and uncertain.
Or both.
"It is oddly fortuitous that you have chosen today to speak to me about this matter. I had already gathered the necessary supplies in the hopes that your counterpart might truly screw up his courage to follow through on his acceptance of my offer to see to similar repairs of his person," he explains, stepping aside to wave Xaaron within.
"I am prepared to begin immediately, if you are. Or if you would prefer, I could perform a diagnostic examination to determine the extent of the materials that will be required for fabrication to potentially streamline the process at a more convenient date."
"As for the state of your repairs," he continues, his tone even to a fault, "not only would it be remiss of me to discuss private medical details with anyone other than the patient in question, I see no reason why it should be any concern of anyone else what condition your internals and state of alternate mode is. It has not been a significant issue to date, and blithely discussing details of what could potentially be a significant factor in the course of a conflict in the future seems most unwise."
Besides, Tanks Anonymous bylaws dictate that one never narks on another anyway.
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Post by Emirate Xaaron on Apr 3, 2008 21:19:26 GMT -5
They are about to be beset by the demons in the mirror. There is no time for pointless, petty friction. That, and it's rather deeply hypocritical to talk about reaching out and making an effort to get to know one another if he doesn't do as he says. Someone around here has to have a conscience. Even Emirate Xaaron makes mistakes, but sometimes, listening to a dissenting voice can prevent those mistakes from being made in the first place.
Perhaps a party was what Emirate Xaaron needed to loosen up.
Emirate Xaaron steps in, but he comments, "I believe my alternate is currently speaking with our Kup. However, on the off that Kup does not keep him long, I certainly wouldn't want to infringe on his appointment, and I will be happy to come back at a later date."
"That said, if you have supplies enough for the both of us, I have no objections to being a dry run for his visit." The corners of his mouth quirk up, and mischief glints in his optics.
OOC: permission from Kup's player granted.
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Post by Perceptor on Apr 3, 2008 22:15:54 GMT -5
Perceptor offers a faintly negligent wave. "It was not a strict 'appointment', really, but more an offer and a perhaps foolish hope on my part that he might accept," he relies, turning to return to his workbench. "Should he arrive while you remain, it might even offer some measure of comfort to him to see that I am attaining some familiarity with your systems to better effect his own repairs."
Gathering up several of his tools, he motions toward the workbench/repair station he'd prepared for the more timid politician. "As for supplies, insofar as we are not precisely operating under a surplus of materials, I believe I should have enough gathered to manage both sets of repairs."
The fact that working on the Emirate first might offer the opportunity to delay working on his alternate, and being confronted with evidence of what might have inspired the other Xaaron's fears of him personally is... a totally unintentional coincidence and an unfortunate side-effect.
Honest.
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Post by Emirate Xaaron on Apr 4, 2008 15:42:16 GMT -5
Emirate Xaaron muses, "Odd that it seems Rodimus Prime's alternate is a demon and that yours is one to be feared, perhaps a worse miscarriage of science than Flame, but mine, is..." He trails off. There is absolutely no way he can put that politely. "And Swerve's is so very courteous and polite. I keep waiting for the other boot to drop, you know?
He really wonders what it says about him that his evil alternate doesn't seem to be evil at all. Is he, perhaps, the evil twin in this situation? Or is his alternate hiding something?
Emirate Xaaron does not consider himself to be evil, but then, they never do. He knows that he is harder than most, but he does what he feels he has to, because someone must, and better him than someone with more innocence to lose.
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Post by Perceptor on Apr 5, 2008 21:56:32 GMT -5
Perceptor peers at Xaaron for a very long moment, a shadow in his gaze as nearly identical thoughts skip wildly through his own processor. Alternates and opposites. Similarities and extremes.
Knowledge is power, and power corrupts. Has that not been his greatest fear for some time? That he lose his compassion? That he take that step toward expediency in lieu of compassion? That he cease to care? What monster might he become then?
Sometimes, the greatest questions in science are not how a thing can be done, but should a thing be done. There is such a thing as knowledge that is too dangerous to hold, and prices too dear to pay for... for safety. For knowledge. For security.
It's put him at odds with Xaaron before.
But, for all of that... "I am not often one who is given to... intuition. I prefer logic and facts, observations and proof. But though certain observations should lead me to distrust your actions and motives at times, Xaaron... I do trust you. You do not wear a sigil, and you argue for actions which I, in my oft parochial viewpoint would balk at for their heartlessness, and yet... You are an Autobot. You seek to defend us and our cause. I have seen this."
"I have seen you, without hesitation, offer to throw your life away in the defense of others, though it might have looked otherwise to you. I have observed your willingness to sacrifice in large manners, and small, if it serves the greater good."
"Perhaps you are merely a deft and skilled actor, but my... my intuition tells me otherwise."
"You are courageous, manipulative, calculating, and kind in your own way. I do not always agree with your methodology, nor your philosophy, yet I cannot argue with your intentions or your results," Perceptor explains quietly, pausing for a long moment as he considers his next words.
"This Swerve... Although I have not had the opportunity to observe him in depth, it is quite obvious even in a cursory manner that he is courteous and polite, and utterly devoted to his Xaaron's safety. Unless this is merely a facade that masks a much more sinister being, he seems an upright and righteous individual. But I am not willing to think ill of our own Swerve just yet, despite his crude manner. For all of his anger and ferocity, there is something..." Perceptor stops there, frowning.
"Something right that guides him. I believe in him, and I will not cease simply for the contrast of a gentler, kinder reflection of him. Nor will I cease to believe in you for the contrast of a refection with no obvious shadows. But I do agree."
"There is a weight looming, if only in our own imaginations, and it is unsettling waiting for it to collapse."
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Post by Emirate Xaaron on Apr 5, 2008 22:15:03 GMT -5
Emirate Xaaron understands that Perceptor can be a rambling sort, and he doesn't interrupt. Perceptor isn't bemoaning his angst - now that would deserve an interruption. Besides, comic characters get used to listening to monologues. So he listens patiently.
Finally, he adds his own input, an actual normal smile on his face, "Thank you, Perceptor. That's better than I could expect. I wouldn't ask you to always agree with me. I'm not always right." He shrugs and then fixes his yellow optics up on Perceptor, "Think critically and draw your own conclusions - that is what I ask of you."
"That said, I do agree with your assessment of our Swerve. He reminds of a very good friend I had, once." He expression turns sober. "Violent, argumentative, surly, and challenging of command - and he was a loyal Autobot, a fine leader of men, brave but not fool-hardy, and the most self-sacrificing Autobot I knew. I don't think Swerve is there yet," of course he allows for a yet, "but I see flickers."
"Perhaps it is simply a matter of greyness. Swerve and I are grey, albeit in vastly different ways, and our inversions are grey again, in shades yet still different. Rodimus Prime and you are cast in white, so your reflections are black as pitch."
Or perhaps the other Emirate Xaaron really is hiding something. This Emirate Xaaron isn't going to discount that possibility.
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Post by Perceptor on Apr 7, 2008 16:22:23 GMT -5
Cartoon characters are significantly less.... tolerant of such exposition. Perceptor is subconsciously quite grateful for Xaaron's forebearance, even if it is more habit for the Emirate than nything else.
"An intriguing summation," Perceptor replies thoughtfully, his optics narrowed in deep thought for a moment before he shakes his head and shrugs. "Microships and diodes, I can diagnose, design, and repair."
He smiles ruefully and gestures for Xaaron to hop up onto the prepared repair berth so that he might begin his work.
"Individuals, less so. Thinking critically, however, I can and will promise you."
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Post by Emirate Xaaron on Apr 7, 2008 20:57:24 GMT -5
If Emirate Xaaron couldn't put up with scientists who talk for a long time, he never would have got very far in life.
Emirate Xaaron scales the repair berth and sits down on it, looking around Perceptor's lab from the new vantage point with curiosity.
He nods curtly and replies simply, "Good."
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Post by Rodimus Prime on Apr 8, 2008 22:55:10 GMT -5
Rodimus Prime is not known for his manners, his tact, or his patience.
For example, when he's intent on something, as he is now, he often forgets to knock.
The young Prime bursts through the doorway into the room, speaking even as he enters. "Hey, Perceptor, have you seen Emirate Xaaron? He was spotted heading towards this area of to- oh!" Rodimus grins a bit sheepishly and rubs the back of his helm. "Nevermind."
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Post by Perceptor on Apr 8, 2008 23:01:21 GMT -5
"As a mater of fact," Perceptor observes wryly, turning to fix a quirked opticked look upon the young Prime, "I have seen him."
Perceptor never bothers securing the door - such as it is in the relatively flimsy-by-Cybertronian-standards - on the off chance that he, or whomever might be keeping him company, might be needed. Such as now, if Rodimus' precipitous entry is anything to judge by.
Still, he holds up an obviously cobbled together handheld scanner as he turns back, silently asking for permission. Provided that Xaaron grants it, he will at least get some cursory scans to begin fabricating a few parts in the event that the young Prime is here to cart Xaaron away.
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Post by Emirate Xaaron on Apr 9, 2008 0:15:55 GMT -5
"I wasn't aware I had acquired Mirage's abilities," Emirate Xaaron observes, adding to the discussion of his visibility.
He is now faced with a quandary. Emirate Xaaron does not want Rodimus Prime knowing what he is. He's on shady enough territory with the boy as it is. However, if the Prime is here, the matter must clearly be important. He sighs and nods to Perceptor. Emirate Xaaron does not need more excuses to delay.
He rubs his chin and asks of Rodimus Prime, "Yes?"
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